Oneshot, Zelda's POV. Ganondorf has returned, and the sealing of Hyrule must commense. Zelda and a select few are chosen to go to high ground and start a new life, but Zelda isn't sure if she can let go of all her old memories and start anew.

The
sound of rushing filled my ears. It had been this way for hours, and
it was not about to stop anytime soon. Water...pouring from the sky,
brought by the goddesses, brought to seal or drown my homeland and
the evil that was born inside its borders, the evil that brought us
into darkness before the glorious day he was banished from this
world. But now he was back, and we could delay our escape from
Hyrule no longer. I knew this was to happen, but that does not mean
I was happy about it.

Let
me take you back in time, back to when and why this whole cruel mess
was started...

My
tale truly begins about a year ago when I was 17. A message brought
to Hyrule Market Town by a fearful peasant quickly and easily spread
to my castle. I remember when I first caught wind of the news I most
feared, the news that I never suspected... I had watched as a
messenger of my kingdom made his way to my father with urgent news.
I hid myself behind a wall and listened.

"Your
Highness," said the messenger. "A resident of Hyrule has
spotted the King of Evil not far from Lake Hylia!"

My
father dove into shock, almost denial for a moment.

"Pardon
me! Ganondorf is slain. How can this be? How can he be alive?"
he questioned.

I
placed my hand over my heart. I did not want to believe what I had
heard. I wished denial upon myself, too, though I knew, and would
always know, that what the messenger spoke of was no joke, no lie.

But
a glimmer of hope lit itself inside my heart--the Hero of Time! He
had disposed of the wicked Ganondorf before, why couldn't he do it
once more?

Other
thoughts came to mind. Bad thoughts... I recalled the day he had
left on a personal journey; I also recalled not seeing him since.
However, I was not about to give up hope on his return.

Months
passed, and my people prayed for Link to come back. Sightings of
Ganondorf became more and more frequent, and soon, whole tribes such
as the Gorons were being slaughtered and taken over as Ganondorf's
minions returned too. There were deaths nearly every day of this
horrible time; I remember the very first of these saddening events…

A
distraught young girl had fled from her home at LonLon Ranch,
explaining through tears to my castle's guards that Ganondorf had
murdered her father. Several guards and warriors from my kingdom
warily ventured to the ranch, only to find that the girl's words
were true—her father was indeed, dead. The guards told of the
large wounds on his body; it was obvious he had been murdered.

As
time went on, more of my people died. The guards heavily protected
my father and I as I waited for the return of the hero.

To
my dismay, he never came. I did not understand…. As much as this
thought pained me, I knew deep in my heart that he would not return
to put an end to Ganondorf's evil as he had done so long ago, but I
did not believe myself. I lay awake many a night thinking, Where are
you, Link? Have you forgotten Hyrule? Have you forgotten me and
your loyalty to this kingdom?

I
began to feel betrayed.

With
these memories said, let us go back to today, this most horrible day,
the day of my departure and the ultimate sealing of my land.

I
stood before my father, garbed in the clothing of a peasant woman,
not the clothing of a princess. This was because I was leaving the
kingdom, and if I dressed as elaborately as I usually did, Ganondorf
would have no trouble finding me at all, and knowing my destined
position as the keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom, he was bound to be
after me.

"Father,
why are you not coming with me? This downpour will drown you! Are
you mad?" I asked, my eyes welling up with tears.

My
father closed his eyes for a moment, sighed then opened them again.

"Zelda,
my child, do not fear for my life. Concern yourself only with your
own well being, for I shall be fine," he replied calmly.

He
will drown if he remains here! I thought with despair as I let one
tear travel down my cheek.

My
father arose, approached me, and wiped another tear away.

"My
child, you must understand, I cannot leave this kingdom. My memories
and its spirit bind me here. I am not going to die."

"What
are you saying, father? That this will not be your end? I
apologize, but that is outrageous…."

"Do
not dwell on what I have just told you. You must leave now, Zelda.
Your escorts are awaiting you."

I
started to speak, but my father interrupted.

"Go,"
he said, his tone telling me that this was the end of the argument.

I
gave him one last teary look, one last sorrowful good-bye, before
turning around, grabbing a small bag of my belongings, and exiting
the castle.

I
was to be escorted to Death Mountain to seek higher ground, and when
I left the castle, two guards were waiting for me on horses, holding
a beautiful white mare that belonged to me, which I would ride to our
destination upon. I attached my bag to the horse's saddle and
climbed on. I nodded to my guides, signaling that I was ready to
leave, and thus, the three of us headed to Hyrule Market Town.

I
slowed my mare's pace as we rode through its streets so I could see
the people who remained, and would remain, in this dying land.

It
was the most unfortunate thing I had ever known…. You see, only so
many of Hyrule's population could seek safer grounds, the rest of
my people were left behind. I thought of how they would drown or be
slaughtered by Ganondorf, and it made me sick. I stared at the
children along the streets watching my departure, children who would
not live to see yet another day.

I
could not take it anymore; I urged my horse into a fast trot, for I
was unable to handle the harsh realities of this cruel world for the
time being.

We
entered Hyrule Field. The grand mote circling my kingdom was
overflowing, and the ground was sopping wet. I looked to the
heavens. The Goddesses' water and fate was raining down upon us
without any sign of slowing or stopping.

Since
we were away from civilization, my guards and I brought our horses to
a gallop. I held my reigns tight as I tried to clear horrible
thoughts from my mind, but it was no use—they came to me as fast as
the downpour came to the ground.

My
mind wandered to Link. I wondered where he was now…. Was he dead?
Was he lost? Had he found a new life and pushed Hyrule out of it?
No matter where I thought he may be, or what I thought he was doing,
I could not help but feel betrayed. I had prayed for his return, but
I knew it was too late now. No one could stop Ganondorf. The only
thing, my father believed, that would stop that man's destruction
was this downpour, this sealing.

How
was giving up our kingdom going to help it? I had yet to find an
answer to such an outrageous question.

My
guards and I arrived safely at Kakariko Village, where I saw more
innocent people who would not survive what my father called mercy,
but what I knew as a curse, a sin, a tragedy that would mean the end
of many…. I tried not to look at the villagers.

We
reached Death Mountain, and the guards standing before its gates let
us pass. Our horses slowed as they picked their way up to the top of
the mountain.

I
could not shake the Hero of Time from my mind. He remained there as
if he were engraved in my thoughts. Not only did he still seem real
there, but also in the most sacred and cherished part of all who are
pure…my heart. However, I felt such rage towards him, and the
feeling of betrayal lingered still.

I
am not sure how long I rode along in my thoughts and on my horse, but
before I knew it, we were at the top of Death Mountain. The journey
was over.

I
stopped my horse and dismounted, then turned to face the others who
would survive our land's fate. I saw the sages, the ranch girl, a
few Kokiri, Gerudos, and even Zoras, along with a few people from
Kakariko and Hyrule Market Town. I received solemn nods of greeting
from my stone-faced fellows. Then a long period of waiting began….
Oh, only the Goddesses know how long we waited! What were we
waiting for? Even I did not know, until something finally happened….

Things
suddenly grew quieter, and a blanket of stillness fell upon the
world. Things remained this way for many minutes until, to my fear
and shock, the heaven's water came down harder and with such
violence you could not even think about it!

I
screamed, and was not the only one who did so. Others who were on
the mountain top yelled too, but there were more than, and this fact
made me burst into tears.

The
people below us, those without a future, also screamed. The air was
filled with the screams of fear, shock, despair, and death.

I
cried as I watched my whole life get buried underwater. I sobbed as
the innocent suffered the cruelest fate imaginable.

Where
are you, Link? I wondered as I yelled and cried. And where do your
loyalties lie? Apparently, not in Hyrule….

Not
anymore.

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